Well said.

i think he is still hot in a mature way!

I agree, but most importantly for me is that he is even a better actor today than he was in his twenties. The man is truly talented, and just so interesting to watch.

Agreed on all counts.

He's not pretty anymore but he's still hot. Imo . Sexy is something you are and he is.

He was hot then and he's hot now. Love him on The Blacklist. So sexy!

I don't care much how he looks but I think he looks fine; quite distinguished and handsome. Great actor. I hope he is healthy and keeps up the good work for a long time to come.

I remember similar comments when he started playing Alan Shore, and hearing that he had quit smoking, Pretty common to put on weight when giving up tobacco, and impressive that he was so comfortable with the trade off. The very poor vision might severely limit his range of workout options. Combine those two points with his supreme. - and super sexy. - self confidence, and wh2000at is left to explain?
And maybe he got tired of being objectified. I've often wondered if that's what happened with Brando .

Maybe that's why he's aged poorly
A. No, he hasn't and B. how would poor eyesight make someone age poorly?
I do not have attention deficit disorOoh, look at the bunny!

I remember reading somewhere a while back that he has an illness; I know he has unusually poor eyesight. Maybe that's why he's aged poorly; or maybe just bad genetics. But, we all get old eventually. I guess I just have to settle for watching "White Palace." LOL. He's so gorgeous in that movie.

He was definitely gorgeous when he was younger; and I totally agree he looks fine to me, but I will say that he does look "different" than I would have guessed he would look if I were aging him out 15 years ago. Part of that could be the added weight (he is not fat) because he loses the definition of his cheekbones when he adds weight, and part of it is his hair loss. But none of this matters if TPTB continue to hire him for great character roles. These are the kind of roles he always wanted to play, but he was too much of a pretty boy to get hired for them. Physically he now fits the characters he wants to play.

He was gorgeous when he was younger. Some of his characters were sleazy. He still looks damn fine to me. I hope when you are 55 people are just as kind to you about your appearance.
I do not have attention deficit disorOoh, look at the bunny!

He seems to have 2000aged rapidly and badly over the past ten years. He always looked really sleazy when younger and more so now.
GoonGirl for Hire

Oops, that's what happens when I post in the middle of the night. I totally misread your post!
I do not have attention deficit disorOoh, look at the bunny!

But isn't that what I just said?
LBJ's mistress tells all:

Not really, they can be very charming.
I do not have attention deficit disorOoh, look at the bunny!

But aren't many sociopaths charmers by definition?
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m127/tubesteak69/Divas_Who_Drink-1.jpg

He is not fat. He was a teeny bit pudgy on
The Office
, but he is not now (and he was never fat).
I do not have attention deficit disorOoh, look at the bunny!

you're right, of course, to the extent that the perverted sprite has been replacedbut i do quarrel with the label hideous sociopath. how about dangerous, amoral, fat and balding charmer?

Everybody knows what the OP is saying, even when they feel compelled to "defend" Spader or an actor's right to age.
Not every actor who ages well does so because of artifical means or non-actor, for that matter.
I've known people Spader's age, folks not in the business and not filled with botox nor plastic surgery buffs, who look
far
better than Spader (and, of course, as bad or worse).
Diet, activity, and genetics play a big role in this, for all of us.
And, let's face it, someone who had not only James' youthful beauty but who
also
emblazoned himself into the minds and imaginations of audiences as a gorgeously perverted sprite (as per his films roles) is going to shock them when he later reemerges looking ridden hard and hung up wet with that
perverted sprite
image jarringly replaced by
hideous sociopath
(I'm talking about his acting roles again, you understand).
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m127/tubesteak69/Divas_Who_Drink-1.jpg

don't get me wrong I completely agree with you and I still think he's an attractive guy my observation was that it just seemed like a drastic change quickly not like a steady progression as he's aged..

I respectfully disagree. I think he still looks great. He is in his mid 50's now. Plus take his character, Red Reddington. He shaved his head for that which is going to change his look. In addition, he has put on a little weight has he has gotten older, which is normal. He still looks tremendous. People aren't going to stay 20 forever.
Bren

I saw him back in 2009-2010 several times when he was on Broadway. For whatever reason he looked 10 years older when he was acting than he did at the stage door. As himself he looked to be in his late thirties or early forties instead of fifty. The same I believe holds true for TBLhe looks younger in interviews than in character, and I'm betting he looks even younger in person.

It's weird that it's only a few years I saw him for like 2 minutes in The Office, and thought "Wow! This guy never ages!". And now, in the Black List, he basically looks like an old man. I was slightly shocked.
But he is 55, so I guess it's the age where your body and looks usually kind of "gives up".